August 29. The humanitarian corridor for Ukrainian soldiers to leave Ilovaisk was shelled by Russian artillery. The corridor was agreed to by the DPR, after the public call from Putin for this corridor to allow Ukrainian forces to withdraw.

ZN.UA reported that as a result of the shelling close to 100 of Ukrainian from the 40th, 39th and 28th battalions and the 51th Volyn brigade from the Ukrainian Armed Forces were killed (estimated casualty figures quoted here have not yet been confirmed by any other sources — editor). Information about shelling of the corridor was confirmed by journalist Nazar Voznuk on 112 Ukraine TV channel.

“I am moving in the column of Ukrainian military, which is moving to the depth of the country. Today active engagement from the Russian army started. Last place where we could see them was the storage reservoir close to Rozovka. A column of the Ukrainian military group surrounded close to Ilovaisk was shelled. We do not know how many of the people survived, assumedly close to 20, but it is only from one group” — journalist tells.

“No corridor was given — situation tragic” — he added.

At the same time NSDC (National Security and Defense Council) has not confirmed information about shelling of the humanitarian corridor close to Ilovaisk. Speaker of NSDC Aleksey Lysenko refuted the information about hundreds of casualties due to shelling. He also stated that no further information about the corridors can be disclosed due to security needs of the military.

Ilovaisk became one of the hardest stages of Anti-Terrorist Operation in recent weeks. During the battles for this city Volunteer Battalion “Donbas” commander Semen Semenchenko was wounded, dozens of fighters of volunteer battalions “Donbas”, “Azov”, “Shakhtarsk”, “Dnepr” were also killed and wounded.

News material by ZN.UA.

Translated by Eugenia Zlamanuk, edited by Larry Field